Yes, I’m sure the Brewers are just chomping at the bit to have Carlos Gomez, Nyjer Morgan AND Juan Pierre all sitting on the bench at the same time. It’s be like the Michael Keaton movie “Multiplicity” except somehow dumber.

Pierre’s contact % and swinging strike % are at his career levels. He is hitting more fly balls than usual which has dropped his BABIP somewhat, but I do think it’s the loss of speed that is killing him (both at the plate and on the bases).

Pierre did a similar thing last year, struggling to get hits before July. He turned it on in July and August, and that must be what Ozzie thinks will happen this season as well. The difference again, in my eyes, is the speed, as Pierre had 29 SB by the end of June last year.

I think there is something to be said about the way defenses now play Pierre. They use a shift on him that’s as drastic as anything used on Ortiz, Dunn, etc.

The infielders move up slightly and the outfielders move up drastically. Now I could be very wrong, but this seems like a newer alignment versus Juan. I didn’t notice it last year.

But anyhow, those little pathetic flyballs that used to drop are falling right into mitts. I think this is why the fly ball rate has increased as he is trying to now hit the ball over the outfielders heads. A skill he does not have because he isn’t very good.

I think this, along with his declining speed have coupled to lower his BABIP and make him one of the worst players in the game as opposed to his usual consistent just badness.

I agree that a decline in speed seems to be Juan’s problem. In April, he dropped a whole lot of routine fly balls, but even since he’s fixed that problem, the defense just hasn’t been what it was last year. He also looks totally lost on the basepaths; he’s been caught stealing EASILY in nearly half his attempts, and picked off on several other occasions.

Juan Pierre’s value in his career has come from putting the ball in play, stealing bases, and catching the ball (certainly not throwing it). And since he doesn’t have any of those working now, he might as well be Andy Gonzalez.

I was at the game yesterday, its obvious Pierre is really upset with himself and is struggling.

The guy goes into yesterdays game hit 390ish off of Doug Davis, then proceeds to not get a single hit off of Davis. He reached base on an error. Davis was not all that great yesterday either.

Its really sad, but right now Sox fans are so frustrated with him. I have zero idea on how anyone can justify playing him at this point. I understand Ozzie wanting to protect his guy, but enough is enough, he not only provides nothing… he actively hurts the team.

Kenny is at fault as well, he is the GM, he needs to tell Ozzie “tough crap, don’t play him”. Lillibridge is a plus defender at the very worst, Pierre is not.

No chance. Ozzie loves Pierre. He wouldn’t bench him regularly. THe only reason Vicedo isn’t up is because Ozzie told Kenny that he wouldn’t be able to find a place for him every day, and both of them agree that Vicedo shouldn’t come up until he’s going to play every day.

Not like Viciedo’s obs will be much better, but at least he’ll give you a better average and more pop. Despite what Buddy Bell I’d like to see Viciedo play in Rf before believing Bell saying he could be a major league RF right now.

In my sick and twisted baseball world, I have no use for corner outfielders that can’t give me a MINIMUM of 20 homers. I didn’t check but I’m fairly certain Pierre’s career total wouldn’t even qualify. When you’re claim to fame was base stealing, which he can no longer do, there is no justifiable reason to keep him on the roster….other than the fact that Ozzie romanticizes about the 20th century concept of the “fast, slappy, lead-off hitter.”

no one is making you read his articles if you dont like them. You just read them so you can be an asshole in the comments? He isnt the best writer, but he is in no way terrible. At least he doesnt get a kick out of insulting other peoples work like you do.

joe girardi is constantly made fun of for managing with his little binder. He actually looks at numbers the whole game and is one of the few managers to change his lineup for lefty or righty starting pitchers (beyond just platoon guys). And yes he realizes that gardner instead of jeter should be leading off, but hes decided that the benefit of jeter getting fewer PA is outweighed by the scandal of moving him down.

Juan Pierre had 22 extra base hits in 160 games last year, and has 8 in 73 games this year. Carl Crawford has never had numbers that putrid. I deem 22 extra base hits the definition of slappy, I hope your brain can function enough for you to realize the ABSURDITY of comparing Carl Crawford to Juan Pierre.

Obviously your tiny mortal brain can’t comprehend the awesomeness of his point…move along, move along. I’ve already been summarily dismissed even though I was just pointing out an obvious flaw in his logic.

I’ve always seen it as the job of a manager to determine when probability may or may not be telling the truth. Ozzie is awfully stubborn, but to say that sabermetrics isn’t a caring part of this lifestyle nowadays is self indulgent.

Actually, Carlos Zambrano has more career home runs than Juan Pierre. Z has 22 in 696 career PA (.240/.250/.391), while Pierre has just 15 in 7128 PA (.296/.345/.363). And it should be noted, as far as Pierre’s speed goes, that this is the logical conclusion to a career that has seen him pilfer 537 bases, but be caught 182 times. He has thrice led the league in SB (01, 03 and 10), but he has been #1 in CS 6 times, including all 3 of his top-thief seasons and each year from 03 through 06. His career success rate is 74.6%, which is pretty much the conventional cutoff point for whether or not a guy should run to begin with. As far as slappy goes, Pierre’s only at 16.8% on his XBH – 321 of 1916 hits for extra bases. As the Cubs found out when they gave up the farm for him, he’s overrated because he was speedy. Now, he’s just a tenured Tony Campana.

Umm…yeah? You would have “no use for” Crawford since he doesn’t homer 20 times a year. I will happily take him and his 34.1 cumulative WAR over the past seven seasons (or 4.9 per).

Am I saying he’s the best player, or even the best corner outfielder, ever? Or even playing currently? Not at all. Worth his contract? Jury is still out. Worth playing on a contender? Definitely, in a heartbeat. Can’t believe that we’re even having this mind-numbing discussion…

Are you this simple that you can’t understand what the issue is here. Let me refer you to my previous comment where I said “…I hope your brain can function enough for you to realize the ABSURDITY of comparing Carl Crawford to Juan Pierre.” So clearly there I’m stating I would have no use for Carl Crawford. I’ll type this s l o w l y so you can c o m p r e h e n d. When you’re a corner outfield you essentially have to be one of two types of players: either hit 20+ homers and have a .360+ wOBA, or steal 50+ bases while playing stellar defense. Juan Pierre is NEITHER!

My previous point was that I personally prefer corner outfielders that hit for power, the examples of Crawford, Ichiro, and Gardner are not of that mold obviously, but they make up for it with the other aspects of their game. JUAN PIERRE DOESN’T…I had no idea I had to be so detailed in my explanation so you could understand that Juan Pierre blows.